"Oh my God, there’s things about the community that I didn't even know!"
-Jaida Essence Hall
By Mukari Rashad
The upcoming season follows a new ensemble of renowned drag queens, Sasha Velour, Priyanka, Jaida Essence Hall, and Latrice Royale, as they spread love and joy through the art of drag across small-town America. In the upcoming season, the queens head to Tennessee and Oklahoma to take an immersive look at recent anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, and the effect it has had on the local community.
When asked about the decision to select a new cast for season four, Steve Warren, the show’s EP/Co-Creator, explained, “This season, it was important for us to have four new perspectives. We had three seasons of Bob, Shangela & Eureka, who really gave it their all! Then we realized, given the current political climate, we needed to expand the universe and expand the We’re Here family to be able to tell more stories.”
From left to right — Sasha Velour, Priyanka, Latrice Royale, Jaida Essence Hall
Jonnhie Ingram, a fellow EP/Co-Creator furthered that, “When selecting the queens, we chose somebody who knows the difference between a person who’s not willing to have a conversation and someone who is willing to have a difficult conversation. I think in these four, I mean, they’re such superpowers. I mean, I'm also nervous around them all the time because not only am I such big fans of their artistry, but their genuine humanity is just in epic proportion.
During their trip to ATL, the cast and creators hosted a panel discussion at SCAD TVFest where the packed audience got an exclusive look at the new additions.
“There’s a format shift where we’re going more deeply into the story of the communities,” explained showrunner Peter LoGreco. “That was a choice we made, based not only on the fact that we thought that’s something we never had the opportunity to explore before by only being in a place for one week and only doing one drag show, but also because of the current political climate. It is so much more complicated because it takes time to develop relationships.”
“At the panel, the cast detailed their experiences with the show, and the impact it has had on them.
Latrice Royale shared, “I just feel like the Cinderella slipper has been put on. Like it is such a glass slipper fit for me! It’s a continuation of what I do. I love being in the trenches because I’m not scared. I will fight for mine. Drag saved my life! I don’t know where I would be without it, so I have to defend it at all costs. And if that means putting myself on the front lines and in these people’s faces to get answers and to dispel the misinformation that they’re spreading, then so be it.”
"I never want anyone to feel like they’re being judged based on the culture, or rituals, or anything like that.”"
-Latrice Royale
“Jaida Essence Hall added that, “It’s like this, you don’t always have the right answers, and you might not be the most sensitive person to the issues that everybody in the world faces. But watching the show, it would give me the sense of like “Oh my God, there’s things about the community that I didn't even know!” And not even in a performance way, but for my drag, it taught me a sensibility about understanding the people in my community, the people that I’m performing for, the people that I’m fighting for, and understanding that when I’m doing my work, I’m doing that work for them.”
Priyanka furthered, “I knew what drag did for me personally but doing this show was a good perspective for understanding what it does for other people. I like my audience, and I want them to feel the escape at my shows; and that’s kind of where it sat for a very long long time, and then when we started going to these small towns, it made me realize how much more people need help off the stage.”
Latrice Royale chimed in, “Just like with everything, when you approach, you have to be open and respectful for meeting people where they are and for who they are. I never want anyone to feel like they’re being judged based on the culture, or rituals, or anything like that. You know what I mean? I’m there to get an understanding and gain knowledge as well, so that I can continue spreading it around with facts.”
The audience also got a sneak peak of the new season before finally, the panel concluded with a strutting competition between audience members and judged by the panel.
